Valve with repair means



Feb. 9, 1960 Y E. c. MICHAELS ,924,

VALVE WITH REPAIR MEANS Filed April 9,1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Faye/M CJZkkde/k 5 far/h & Carfer J/Zarfiqys Feb. 9, 1960 VALVE WITH REPAIR MEANS Filed April 9, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J7? we to?" iiuyene 6. Jfz'caels' 5y Par/fer p? CarZer Jzzarraeys E. c. MICHAELS 2,924,232

United States Patent" VALVE WITH REPAIR MEANS Eugene C. Michaels, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 9, 1954, Serial No. 422,086

4 Claims. (Cl. 137315 This invention is directed to a new and improved diaphragm valve.

In this type of valve a diaphragm formed from a flexible packing material provides a tight seal between the valve seat, valve closure element and the operating mechanism for the valve closure element. These diaphragms are flexed during the normal operatingmovements of the valve closure elements. They are subject to deteriorating effects of the fluid passing through the valve. A primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved form of diaphragm valve wherein it is possible to remove and replace a worn diaphragm without disturbing the flow of fluid through the valve.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an approved arrangement of valve elements wherein it is possible to remove and replace a packing diaphragm when the valve is either in the fully open position or fully closed position without disturbing the normal functioning of the valve.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved form of valve closure element.

Another object of the present invention is the provision l of a mechanism for holding a valve closure element in either a fully open or fully closed position without reliance upon the normal operating means for the valve closure element,

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the ensuing specifications and claims.

Referring generally now to the drawings,

Figure 1 illustrates an elevated view, in section,- of the improved valve.

Figure 2 is a view similar to- Figure 1 but showing another operative position of the valve elements shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the valve as shown in Figure 2, taken along the sectional lines 3--3 of- Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the valve taken along the sectional lines 4--4 of Figure l, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the sectional lines 5-5 of Figure 2.

Like elements are designated by like characters throughout the specifications and drawings.

Referring specifically now to the drawings Figure 1 represents a valve body or housing having a first passage 2 and a second passage 3 formed therein and communicating with one another through a chamber 4. Either of the passages may be an inlet and the other an outlet. The passages 2 and 3 are divided by a central portion 5 of the valve body, A generally spherically shaped valve seat is defined by the portions 2a and 3a oi the passages 2 and 3 and the upper portion 6 of portion 5.

The chamber is defined by an upstanding. sleeve 7 which is seated upon flanges 8 surrounding an opening in the main valve body. Any suitable packing 9 may be interposed between the sleeve 7 and flanges 8. Any suitable cap screws or bolts 10 may be employed to secure the sleeve 7 and the main valve body 1 in assembled fluid tight relation.

The sleeve 7 surrounds and encloses a valve stem 11 having a valve closure member or sealing disc 12 formed on the lower end thereof. Valve closure member 12 is adapted to engage the valve seat and close off communication between the passages 2 and 3.

As will be seen most clearly in Figure 3, the stem 11 is cylindrical. Whereas I have shown the stem 11 as having a cylindrical shape, I wish it to be understood that if desired, the stem may be square or any other suitable shape. It is passed through a bearing projection 13 which is formed unitarily with the sleeve and extends into the interior of the sleeve.

A diaphragm 14 is seated upon the upper end of the sleeve and has a lower surface bearing against the upper portion of the stem 11. The diaphragm 14 serves as a packing between the sleeve 7 and a bonnet 15 which encloses and supports certain operating elements for reciprocating the valve stem 11.

In the particular embodiment shown the mechanism for reciprocating the valve stem 11 includes a hand wheel 16 which is secured to a yolk 17 which, in turn, is held against upward movement in the bonnet. The yolk is threadably engaged by a second stem 18. The lower portion of the stem 18 is passed through the diaphragm 14 and is received within the upper portion 19 of stem 11. 20 is a nut which serves to hold the stem 11, stem 18 and diaphragm in the assembled, pressure tight relation shown in Figure 1.

As is the customary practice rotation of the hand wheel 16 serves to raise and lower the stem 18 and stem 11 to thereby efl'ect the desired valve opening or valve closing movement as the case may be.

According to the invention, the valve closure element 7 12 is adapted to be reciprocated, between an upper posi-- tion shown in Figure l and a lower position shownin,

Figure 2 by an operating assembly including the hand wheel 16, nut 20, and stems 18 and 11. The valve closure element 12 includes a substantially rigid inner core 12a formed integrally with the stem 11 surrounded by packing 220i any suitable resilient or compressible material. Packing 22 on the lower surface of the core 12a is generally spherical in shape and conforms to the general configuration of the valve seat defined by the portions 2A, 6 and 3A. When the valve closure element 12 is lowered into the valve closing position shown in Figure 2 and Figure 5, the packing is tightly compressed against the portions 2A, 6 and 3a, andthereby compressing the packing and forming a tight seal between the passages 2 and 3. The packing 22 extends over the periphery of the core 12a and extends inwardly towards the axis of the element 12. The valve closure element 12 has what is in effect a mushroom shape which seats across the weir formed betweenthe passages 2 and 3, and across the'openings in these passages communicating with the chamber 4. Previous valves using this form of passage and chamber construction have employed a diaphragm to close the passage and to seal off the operating means for the valve from the passages. In these previous valve constructions a damaged diaphragm requires that the entire valve be taken out of service. As contrasted with these previous constructions, the mushroom closure for the passages is relatively heavy in construction and will last for a comparatively long period of time. Furthermore, according to the principles of the invention, an entirely separate packing normally separates the operating means from the valve passages. The invention eontemplates means for relieving the pressure .on this separate packing means whenever it is necessary to replace this packing means. The advantages of this type of valve closure element in conjunction with this form of packing means for the valve willbecome. more apparent, as the description proceeds. v

The sleeve 7 includes an angular projection 23 surrounding the stem 11 andterminating in a rim defining an auxiliary valve seat. The projection 23, is {spaced so as to be engaged-by the valve closure element 12in its upper position allowing; flow between the passages 2 and 3." t

I employ an auxiliary valvelocking means for forcing the valve closure element 12 into engagement with either the main valve seat 'or the auxiliary valve seat.

The locking means is carried by the sleeve 7 onthe the tapered end portion 26 of the pin 25 when the valve stem is. in the lower position, the surface 30, on the other 9 hand, is so spaced with relation to the valve closure element 12 as to be engaged by the end portion 26 when the stem, is in-the upper position shown in Figure 1. Locking pin 25 is threadably received withinthe sleeve 7 as at 32. Y A generally disc shaped packing member 33 surrounds the entire portion of the pin 25 and is positioned between the inner end of the bushing'and the. inner end of the bore in the sleeve receiving the bushing. By rotating the bushing so a'sto move the bushing in: wardly the packing member 33 is tightly compressed and forms afluid tight seal around the pin 25. Locking pin; 25 may be provided with any suitable thumb piece, 34

for rotating the locking pin. Any suitable means such as a set screw 35 may be provided for locking. the bushshowing is to be taken in an'tillustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are many modifications of the invention which will follow within the scope and spirit of the invention and which will be apparent to those in the art. The scope of the invention therefore shouldbe limited only by the scope of thehereinafter appended claims.

Iclaim: Y 1. A removable ,flexible diaphragm weir type valve assembly for use in continuous operation with highly eorrosive' fluids under pressure comprising a valve housing having inlet and outlet passages, a weir between the passages, a main valve'seat surrounding the passages, an

ing 31 in position where it etfectively compresses the packing 33 and forms the seal between the pin 25' and the bore receiving the pin and bushing. ,The bushing 31 not only serves as a bearing seatedinto the sleeve-for the pin 25, but it also provides a packing gland for the 7 pin 25. t i

" If the valve is in the open position shown generally in Figure 1- and it is necessary to change the diaphragm 14, the operator simply rotates the pin 25 so as. tofmove it inwardly and into engagement with the upper surface 30 of the groove 27. Asthe tapered end portion 26 of the pin engages this upper surface 30, the :stem is forced up- .wardly due to the wedging action between the tapered end portion26 and the upper surface 30. The pin may be rotated sufliciently to, force the valveclosure eleeluding a bearing projection in the sleeve for guiding and ment 12 tightly against theauxilia'ry valve seat 24 there 7 by compressing the packing and forming a fluid tight seal between, the auxiliary valveseat and the upper portion of the assembly. The screw 15A maythen be removed and the worn diaphragm 14 replaced.

If the diaphragm 14 is worn and requires replacement when the valve is in theclosed position shown generally in Figures 2 and 5, the locking pin 25 is again rotated so as to force it inwardly and into;contact withrthe lower surface 29 of the groove 28. Continued extension ofthe pin within the'sleeve forces the stem 11 andvalve closure 7 element 12 into tight sealing engagement with the main 65 valve seat. When in this position, the diaphragm 14, bonnet 15 and hand wheel 16 may be removed with a sub.- sequent replacement of these elements with a new diaphragm.

Thus, it is possible to' replace or repair the diaphragm and main operating elements of the valve when the valve is in either. the'open or closed position.

opening in the housing exposing the weir and main valve seat, a removable adapter sleeve mounted on the valve housing and generally aligned with the opening, a flexible removable diaphragm on the sleevefor sealing the inof elastomeric material wrapped therearound and covering said engaging surfaces, said sealing disc being formed and adapted to alternately engage the auxiliary valve seat in a first position to thereby seal off the diaphragm when fluid passes through the valve housing, and then to engage the main valve seat and. theweir simultaneously in a second position to thereby shut off communication between the inlet and outlet passagesand also between the passages and the sleeve, an operating assembly for moving the sealing disc alternately intoengagement with first the aim iliary valveseat ,and .then with the weir. and main valve :seat, and locking,meansjormaintaining'the sealing disc in either the valve open or closed position to thereby permit iremoval of the flexiblepacking in either position.

2. The weir type, valve assembly of claim 31 further characterized in that the operating assembly includes astenr 1 extending between the sealing member and thediaphragrn .wherebyl the diaphragm flexes withthe stem, andoperab ingmeansw external to the sleeve for reciprocating the stem, said locking means being engageable with the stem.-

3. The weir type; valve assembly of claim 2 further-inconfining the stem as the sealing disc is moved alternately into engagement with the auxiliary valve seat and then with the weir and main valve seat.

"4.-The weir type, valve assembly'of claim 3 further characterized in thatthe locking means includes a camming member extendingthrough the projection, said camming member being engageablewith' the stem in camming engagement ;at points" correspondingto'the scaling positrons of the sealingdisc. I

. References Cited in the file of this patentl UNITED STATES PATENTS 774,985 Jones Nov. 15,1904

1,119,948 Green Dec. 8, 1914 1,352,735 *Egerton Sept. 14, 1920 41,622,151 1, Joyce L 1 Mar. 22, 1927 2,223,702 Pcnick Dec. 3, 1940 2,397,373. Saunders Mar.26', 1946 -2,75s,o59 Auwarter .4.-- July 17,- 1956 2,766,829 Watts Oct. 16, 1956,

i "FOREIGN PATENTS t 

